The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-20
Out of the 5000 Chinaman in New

| 1OTk Ouly OU nave bdh6u Un6 tFOuDle
to become citizens and voters. Dep
uty Sheriff Tom Lee Is the unoppos-
ed leader of this small band. He is
political power in the Fourth and
Sixth wards, for these fifty voters
will to man support any candidate
he favors. The politicians know
this, hence Toms Importance. Tom
is a very sensible, level-headed sort
of a fellow and deserves the conf
dence that his fellows place in him.
Tom is by no means owned by any
of the factions,
If the Cinnamon do not become
citizens they stick to Freemasonry.
There are 1900 Chinese Masons in
New York. all members of one
lodge the only one in the state. The
Chinese Masons are not affiliated with
the. English organization, although
they follow practically the same
rules and methods. All of the big
guns in Mott street, from Wo Kee
down, are Masons, ana they stick
quite as closely together under any
and all circumstances as do their En-
gIish speaking brothers. When one
of their number died few days ago
the whole of Chinatown turned out
and attended the funeral.
Nearly all of the Cinnamon of this
city are bachelors. Thereare only four
Chinese women in New York, and as
there are a good many obstacles in
the way of securing Caucasian ladies
as better halves, but few of the 5000
men are Benedicts. About two hun
dred of them have, however succeed
ed in winning the hearts and hands
of females, mainly of German, Italian
and Irish origin, and live in good
style with their families.
Mott street is the respectable part
of Chinatown. For the most part it
is clean, quiet and orderly. But in
Pell street are gathered several hun
dred of as disreputable heathens as
ever cut throat. The Cinnamon of
Mott street have an expressive name
for Pell street. They call it "Broken
Head street," and it is worthy of the
name. Here is the headquarters of
the Highbidders, the famous secret
society of thugs and murderers, who
caused 80 much terror in San Fran
cisco, and who have been at the bot
tom OF not few desperate crimes in
New York. There are probably three
hundred of these criminals and out
casts, who haunt the dirty Easements
and tenements of Broken Head
street," gambling, drinking, smok-
ing opium and having wild orgies,
which sometimes end in fatal affrays.
The respectable element in China
town looks down upon these rufians,
but it also fears them. They are
known to hold Life lightly. and for
the smallest sum will hire themselves
out to do any desperate deed.
There are two Joss houses on Chat
ham Square, and even these are now
unable to accommodate the crowds
OF thorough paced heathens that wor-
ship in them. The Chinaman is Just
as fond of his snub nose gods as be-
fore he hreathed the air of Christian
New YORK. There is now a project
under way to build in Chatham
Square new Joss house that will
surpass anything of the kind in the
country. Wo Kee and other wealthy
Chinaman are behind it, and it is GER
tain to be success. 1t will not be
built, however, until next year.
The Chinese of New York are
careful to give respectable burial to
all their brethren who die. They
own plots in Greenwood. Evergreens
and New York Bay Cemeteries.
That in the latter cemetery is the
largest. apd cost $3.50. Several hun
dred graves in all are to be seen in
these plots.
Chinatown has no printed newspa-
per now, Several years ago Wong
Chinn Foo established the Chinese
American, but it died, and the ex-
pertinent has not been repeated. |
There is, however, newspaper of an
original pattern. 1t has no city edi-
tor, and the whole of Chinatown is
on its staff. Those ancient journals
tic chestnuts, "Veritas," "Old Sub
scriber," and others whose chief am
bition is to lombard newspaper of
fees with communications of all |
kinds. would admire this newspaper
for its columns are no less than about |
125 feet long, and are open to all.
AT almost any time of day group
of Cinnamon may be seen standing
around the telegraph pole in front of
Wo KEGS grocery store. That tele-
graph pole is Chinatown's daily news
paper. 1t dosen't circulate at all,